Hydrogen Discharge Deflector with Balancing Weight

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Solution Overview

Problem

Hydrogen discharge systems in vehicles fail to comply with European standards when a vehicle rolls over, as the hydrogen release direction can be towards the ground or side, increasing the risk of fire and damage, and hindering rescue efforts.

Innovation Solution

A hydrogen discharge system with a deflector mechanism that maintains the vent orientation upwards relative to the ground, even when the vehicle is tilted or rolled, using a pipe with radial openings and a balancing weight to stabilize the deflector, ensuring hydrogen is released safely and in compliance with European standards.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the hydrogen discharge system uses a fixed upward vent orientation, then hydrogen is discharged away from ignition sources and passenger compartments, but the discharge direction becomes unpredictable when the vehicle rolls over

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehydrogen discharge safetyVSAvoiddischarge direction adaptability to vehicle orientation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The vent is made rotatable relative to the pipe, allowing it to dynamically adjust its orientation. The balancing weight creates a gravitational torque that automatically reorients the vent to face upward regardless of the vehicle's tilt angle, resolving the contradiction between fixed safety orientation and adaptability to vehicle movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

A balancing weight is attached to the vent mechanism to counteract the effect of vehicle tilting. The weight creates a restoring torque that ensures the vent always orients upward relative to gravity, maintaining safe discharge direction even when the vehicle rolls over, thus adapting to changing vehicle orientations while preserving safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

2Ease of manufacture

If the vent is oriented upwards relative to the vehicle body, then hydrogen discharge complies with European standards during normal operation, but the discharge may be directed towards the ground or side when the vehicle is tilted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefixed vent installationVSAvoiddischarge direction control under accident conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The vent is designed to rotate dynamically in response to vehicle tilting through the balancing weight mechanism, transitioning from a fixed installation to an actively adjusting component that maintains upward orientation relative to gravity rather than the vehicle body.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of fixing the vent to the vehicle body and accepting that it will tilt with the vehicle, the system inverts the reference frame by using gravity as the fixed reference. The balancing weight ensures the vent orients relative to the gravitational field rather than the vehicle structure, achieving reliable upward discharge even during accidents.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If a rotatable deflector with balancing weight is added to maintain upward vent orientation, then hydrogen discharge safety is improved during vehicle rollover, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehydrogen discharge safety during rolloverVSAvoiddeflector mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A balancing weight is attached to the vent mechanism to counteract the effect of vehicle tilting. The weight creates a restoring torque that ensures the vent always orients upward regardless of the vehicle's tilt angle, adapting to changing vehicle orientations while preserving safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Solution Approach 2:

The balancing weight mechanism is passive and self-actuating, using gravitational force to automatically maintain upward vent orientation without requiring external power sources, control systems, or complex actuation mechanisms. This simple gravity-based self-regulation achieves safety improvement with minimal added complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system ensures safe hydrogen release upwards, preventing ground or side discharge, thus reducing the risk of fire and damage, and fully adhering to European safety standards, even in accident scenarios where the vehicle is tilted.

Implementation Method 1

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS11598486B2Hydrogen discharge system for a truck and truck comprising such system

Publication Date: 2023.03.07 VOLVO TRUCK CORP

AI summary

Hydrogen discharge system for a truck and truck comprising such system The invention concerns a hydrogen discharge system (14) for a truck, this system comprising a pipe (16) provided with at least one discharge opening (162), a deflector (18), that is rotatably mounted with respect to the pipe and that includes a vent, for venting hydrogen exiting through the discharge opening. The system further includes a balancing weight (22) secured to the deflector (18), so as to maintain the deflector in a configuration wherein the vent is facing upwards with respect to the ground, in order to always discharge hydrogen upwards relative to the ground.